#Estey organ company brattleboro vt usa series#
#Estey organ company brattleboro vt usa free#

One of the buildings now houses the Estey Organ Museum the entire surviving complex was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, both for its architecture, and as a major economic force in Brattleboro for many years. Several of the buildings were built with distinctive slate siding, resulting in an architecturally unique collection of such structures in the state. At its height, the complex had more than 20 buildings, many of which were interconnected by raised walkways and covered bridges. The Estey Organ Company's main factory was located southwest of downtown Brattleboro, on the south side of Whetstone Brook between Birge and Organ Streets.

#Estey organ company brattleboro vt usa series#

In 2019 the brand was revived for a series of entry level instruments manufactured in China for sale through the dealer network left without new product after the demise of Lowrey. Fletcher Music Centers and the Estey Organ Company corporate office is in Clearwater, Florida. They sold these throughout the 1990s, exclusively through their chain of retail stores.

#Estey organ company brattleboro vt usa free#

The models included a lifetime free lesson program. Later historyįletcher Music Centers purchased the Estey Organ company name in 1989, and subsequently produced several models of home organs. At Estey, he helped develop the Estey Electronic Organ model S and AS-1 (1954), then served as a chief engineer and a vice-president of Estey during the late 1950s. He had been a pioneer in the research and development of electronic musical instrument since the 1930s, and had developed the Bode Organ in 1951. Estey Organ after World War II Estey Organ Company 1891 map from Sanborn Fire Map Companyįollowing World War II, Estey developed and manufactured electronic organs, joining a limited number of companies that manufactured all three types of organs-reed, pipe, and electronic. The company provided organs for many important locations, including New York City's Capital Theatre, the Sacramento, CA Municipal Auditorium, and Henry Ford's home in Dearborn, Michigan.Īlso during the era of silent films, Estey made over 160 theatre organs. They built and sold more than 3200 pipe organs across the US and abroad. In 1901, Estey Organ Company began making pipe organs, and became one of the largest American pipe organ manufacturers. It made more than 520,000 instruments, all labeled Brattleboro, Vt. Over its more than one hundred years, Estey became the largest and best known manufacturer of reed organs in the world. Jacob Estey saw the manufacturing and sale of these instruments, later known as American reed organs, as a new business opportunity. Estey & Company, Estey Organ Company-and finally, Estey Organ Corporation. In 1855, Estey organized the first manufacturing company to bear his name, Estey & Greene-followed by Estey & Company, J. Despite having no musical talent or skills as an inventor, Jacob Estey grew the company into a great success, giving up the plumbing business.

When the renters ran short of cash, Estey took an interest in the business in lieu of rent, eventually becoming sole proprietor. He died in 1890.Ībout 1850, Estey built a two-story shop in Brattleboro and rented it out to a small company that manufactured melodeons.

He soon bought the shop, beginning a long career as a successful businessman. In 1835 he arrived in Brattleboro, Vermont at age 21 to work in a plumbing shop. Jacob Estey, born 1814 in Hinsdale, New Hampshire, ran away from an orphanage to Worcester, Massachusetts, where he learned the plumbing trade. Estey also produced pianos, made at the Estey Piano Company Factory in New York City. Estey built around 500,000 to 520,000 pump organs between 18. At its peak, the company was one of the world's largest organ manufacturers, employed approximately 700 people, and sold its high-quality items as far away as Africa, Great Britain, Australia, and New Zealand. The company was founded in 1852 by Jacob Estey, who bought out another Brattleboro manufacturing business. ( Magnatone) Įstey Organ Company was an organ manufacturer based in Brattleboro, Vermont. Pump organs (Melodeon, American reed organ) Pipe organs, Theatre organs, Electronic organsĮstey Piano Co., Welte Mignon Corp., Welte Organ Co., North American Discount Co., Estey-Welte Securities Co., Eswell Realty Corp., Magna Electronics Co.